Page 9 of Because You Said Yes

Charlotte looked at Ivy. “Cat faces, honey. Aren'tcatsadorable?” She looked over her shoulder and winked. “Bastien, if you need to do other stuff, I’m happy to take Ivy home once the shop closes. My driving record is better than my cooking and everyone in town can vouch for my trustworthiness. It’s up to you and Ivy, of course, but I’m happy to help. Besides, it’s not like anyone is busting down my door to plan a wedding.”

He spun around in surprise. “This is a wedding store?”

“Because You Said Yes,” she replied. “Nothing is impossible—all you need to do is ask for it.”

“Is that true? Can you get whatever anyone wants?”

She grabbed a golden pen and handed it to Ivy. “What do you want?”

CHAPTERFIVE

Charlotte waited for him to respond.

“Right now, I need a good night’s sleep,” Bastien said. “But I’d settle for anything that could calm my nerves.”

“That’s something I can help with.” Charlotte grabbed a few things from the shelf beside her and brought them to the counter. She carefully placed a teapot, cup, saucer, and a small honey jar on the glass. “This is Cricket’s honey. She raises the bees herself. She claims it’s the elixir of the gods and has everyone believing it will cure everything from wrinkles to bad moods.” Charlotte plugged in the instant teapot, and the water churned to a boil. “I figure if we mix my tea with Cricket’s honey, we’ve got a recipe for success.”

Bastien looked up at Charlotte. “I would love some tea. What kind is it?”

Charlotte smiled as she opened the jar so he could smell it. “It’s my blend of chamomile, lavender, honeybush, jasmine, and peppermint, blended with a hint of lemon and ginger. It should help you relax and hopefully get your mind off things for a while.”

He brought the jar to his nose, breathed in the mixture, and then nodded before handing it back to her. “Smells great.” He sighed. “My sister Chloe always loved tea.”

“It’s therapeutic.” She measured the herbs into a basket and placed it in a cup before covering it with boiling water. “We’ll let it steep for a few minutes.”

Charlotte helped Ivy with her letter while Bastien walked around her shop. She watched him for a moment before speaking again. “Like I said, if you’ve got things to do, I can keep an eye on Ivy. I imagine you’ve got lots of planning.” She glanced down at Ivy and whispered, “You know, arrangements and stuff.”

“Chloe made all her arrangements. I have to pick up my mother, who’s arriving in Galveston, but we’ll do that together. No one should face Annette Richmond alone.” He turned to Ivy. “Grandma is coming today.”

Ivy frowned. “She doesn’t like to be called Grandma.”

He cocked his head to the side. “What do you call her?”

“Mee-maw.”

“And she likes that?”

Ivy shrugged. “I don’t think she likes anything, even me.”

Charlotte felt her heart break. She wanted to put her arms around Ivy and tell her that Mee-maw must love her. After all, she was on her way. But she knew that wouldn’t be the right thing to do in this situation. She didn’t know the family or its dynamics.

Instead, Charlotte cleared her throat and offered a comforting smile. “I’m sure she’s looking forward to seeing you,” she said reassuringly.

Ivydippedherchin beforeturninghergazetowards Bastien. He was standing in the corner of the room, silentlywatchingtheir exchange.The corners of his mouth turned down, and his eyes were dark like the sky on a cloudless night. He hadn’t said anything throughout the entire exchange, but Charlotte could see the emotion playing on his face.

He cleared his throat before speaking up. “We should probably get going,” he mumbled as he stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Ivy’s shoulder.

Charlotte nodded as she reached for the cup of tea on the counter. She handed it to Bastien. “Here,” she said softly, “Drink this first. It might help.”

Bastien accepted the cup of tea from Charlotte, taking a small sip before setting it back down. He looked at Ivy, and all Charlotte could see was love and sadness in his eyes. He knelt, so he was at eye level with her, and said, “Ivy, we have to go now. Mee-maw’s flight arrives soon, and she needs us to pick her up.”

Ivy nodded sadly and wrapped her arms around Bastien’s neck for a hug before he stood up. He gave Charlotte a grateful look, and she smiled back in understanding before walking over and giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.“Everything will be okay,” she murmured before taking a step back. Bastien glanced around the store before turning to leave with Ivy. As they stepped from the counter, Charlotte whispered, “Good luck.”

Charlotte watched as the two figures disappeared around the corner, and a wave of sadness rushed over her. Then she noticed Ivy had left her letter. She set it aside and cleaned up the table. She’d bring Ivy’s letter over after she closed up shop for the day.

Cricket opened the door with her free hand, balancing two steaming cups of coffee in the other. The smell of freshly brewed coffee quickly filled the shop.

“You better not be bringing me a cup of your special brew,” Charlotte said with a laugh.

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